Column: Family ties with Chiefs acquisition

Four years ago, while watching the Cloverdale Bantam AAA team play, I wondered if I was watching the player that would be the first son of a former Chief player to play for the Chiefs.

At the time I thought there was a decent chance I was.

A few years later, when that player committed to play for the Langley Rivermen, I figured I was wrong.

Turns out I was right after all.

The player in question is forward Darien Craighead. He is now a Chief after being acquired from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for defenseman Carter Cochrane on Wednesday.

His father John played 25 regular season games plus playoffs for the Chiefs during the 1991-92 season. In those 25 regular season games he scored 12 goals and 16 assists and added 116 penalty minutes.

He was the toughest player on a very tough team. He went on to a lengthy pro career that included five games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and six seasons in Europe as well as a one year stint in the Vancouver Canucks system.

Darien is a different type of player.

He’s played two full BCHL seasons, one in Langley and one in Cowichan. Last year with the Capitals he scored 19 goals and added 23 assists in forty games.

He’s committed to Northern Michigan University for the 2016-17 season.

So who will be the next son of a former Chief to suit up for the Chiefs? Hopefully that question will be answered a few seasons from now.

The Chiefs Kid’s Club is back thanks to partner White Spot.

Kids 12 and under can sign up for just $20 and will receive a White Spot Kid’s Club T-Shirt, and a free Pirate Pak meal every month during the Chiefs season.

Lots of other prizes and activities as well.

You can sign up at any Chiefs home game or visit the Chiefs website and download the registration form there.

Two games for the Chiefs this weekend against teams that are at much different spots in the BCHL standings.

Tonight (Friday) the Chiefs are in Surrey to take on the 2-6-0-0 Eagles before they return home Saturday to take on the 8-1-0-0 Penticton Vees.

The Chiefs easily handled the Eagles 6-0 on home ice nine day ago but it’s a different game in Surrey where the Eagles play on the larger Olympic size ice surface.

The Chiefs and Vees met earlier this season during the BCHL Showcase at Prospera Centre. The Vees won that one 2-1 in overtime.

The game was another gem played between these two teams.

The scouts I talked to that weekend said that game was the best junior A game they had seen in a long time. These teams bring out the best in each other and I expect no different Saturday night.